Category: Illustration

These are posts featuring illustrations designed by John LeMasney. In general, unless otherwise noted, they are licensed CC-Attribution, cc-by lemasney, and should contain a citation and linkback.

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Why do I post so much about nutrition?

bread by lemasney
bread by lemasney
Muesli recipe by lemasney
i heart coffee by lemasney
Vegetable manchurian
Don’t eat anything incapable of rotting by lemasney

So, those of you paying close attention may have noticed that I write about food. A lot. And so you might ask:

What does food and nutrition have to do with technology, design, and training, John?

And my answer is straightforward: Everything.

Cooking, food, nutrition, and technology.

Food and nutrition in my life are highly influenced by technology. Every time I eat anything, the next thing I do is use my phone, computer, or other Internet connected device to add to my food log. I count every calorie I eat. I am able to review, analyze, or otherwise know the details of every calorie I eat, going back years. Around my neck, always, is my fitbit, which counts steps, stairs, sleep, and other data about what I’m putting out as far as energy. The difference between when I was very heavy and now is that now I know to the calorie what I am taking in and what I am burning. As a result, technology is directly responsible, in part, for my level of fitness.

Cooking, food, nutrition, and design.

Food is design in that when you cook, count calories, or otherwise plan your nutrition, that is design. It’s not visual design, or architecture, granted, but it is very clearly design. In fact, I would posit that the difference between the obese and the normal weighted is very often the result of a lack of design. I’ve redesigned my nutritional plan, and lost over 100 pounds. Design is the act of codifying, simplifying, and making clear a plan of communication, layout, or direction. Taking hold of one’s nutrition is a pure form of design.

Cooking, food, nutrition, and training.

I have learned a lot in my journey towards health. I know when and exactly how I am mis-eating, which I did not know before. I knew when I was eating badly, I knew when I was eating cleanly, but I did not know, numerically, to what degree either had as an effect on my fitness. I know now. I firmly believe that I could help (e.g. train) anyone with a weight problem to resolve it, if they want to. There is no cost but your will in my method, and no disbenefit except awareness of how badly you might be eating. But as soon as you lose your extra weight, you’ll forget all about that.

Ask me about it, I’d love to discuss it with you.

 

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Illustration

Pencil

An illustration of a pencil by John LeMasney
An illustration of a pencil by John LeMasney
An illustration of a pencil by John LeMasney
An illustration of a pencil by John LeMasney

An illustration of a pencil by John LeMasney.

This sketch reminds me of the story of the space pen, in which it’s suggested that the US was wasteful in spending a million dollars to develop a space pen, while Russians simply used pencils. A great story, but false on many counts:

“The lesson of the infamous “space pen” anecdote about NASA’s spending a small fortune to develop a ballpoint pen that astronauts could use in outer space, while completely overlooking the simple and elegant solution adopted by the Soviet space program (give cosmonauts pencils instead), is a valid one: sometimes we expend a great deal of time, effort, and money to create a “high-tech” solution to a problem, when a perfectly good, cheap, and simple answer is right before our eyes.   As good a story and moral as that may be, however, this   anecdote doesn’t offer a real-life example of that syndrome.   Both U.S. astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts initially used pencils on space flights, but those writing instruments were not ideal: pencil tips can flake and break off, and having such objects floating around space capsules in near-zero gravity posed a potential harm to astronauts and equipment. (As well, after the fatal Apollo 1 fire in 1967, NASA was anxious to avoid having astronauts carry flammable objects such as pencils onboard with them.)”

– snopes.com: NASA Space Pen –

http://goo.gl/9RtFIv

This drawing was made by John LeMasney in Krita, the open source digital painting application.

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Illustration

Sneaker

sneaker by lemasney
sneaker by lemasney

A drawing of a sneaker.

This is Jack’s sneaker. I asked him to choose something for me to draw for this project, and after some careful thought, he chose his sneaker. It has the most beautiful lines, and this bright orange color offset by a deep gray. I made the illustration using the open source digital illustration program called Krita.

If you’d like an illustration of your favorite shoe, you can get yours here. Just email me at lemasney@gmail.com.

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Illustration

Tall mug by lemasney

Tall mug by lemasney
Tall mug by lemasney
Tall mug by lemasney
Tall mug by lemasney

Tall mug by John LeMasney

This is one of my favorite coffee mugs. It holds a full 20 ounces, feels heavy and right in your hand, and is easy to find, even in the dark. There’s something solid about it; it’s reassuring. Sometimes, I even feel just a little more assured of my progress when I use it. Other coffee containers I have pale in comparison. Even when you put it down, there’s a small audible thump, reminding you of its gravitas. It’s solid, clean and sound.

Drawing of a tall coffee mug was made in the open source digital painting application named Krita by John LeMasney. If you’d like an illustration of an object, just email me at lemasney@gmail.com!

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Illustration

Geek glasses

Geek glasses by lemasney
Geek glasses by lemasney
Geek glasses by lemasney
Geek glasses by lemasney

A pair of geek glasses.

I had surgery on my eyes in the last ten years to correct early onset cataracts. I’m 41 at the time of this writing. Along with the surgery to repair my long sight came the need for glasses for my short sight. Even though I only need them in very specific screen viewing situations, every time I put them on, I rejoice a little bit at the gift of clear sight. Having lived without it for about a year, I will never take it for granted again.

I made this illustration using the open source digital painting application Krita. If you’d like an illustration of your own, please contact me at lemasney@gmail.com

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Illustration Inkscape

Coffee cup

coffee cup by lemasney
coffee cup by lemasney
coffee cup by lemasney
coffee cup by lemasney

A disposable, if recyclable, paper coffee cup.

I love coffee. I’ve said it many times. I do not love how often I end up throwing one of these in the trash though. Recently, there’s been a news item about how Starbucks baristas are being asked to discuss race with customers, which I think is an interesting and gracious idea. I think an easier, if just as important topic is the amount of trash that we generate in society, and even though Starbucks gladly will sell you a more permanent solution than this paper vessel, it would be interesting to start conversations about the issue, too.

I made this drawing in Inkscape, the open source vector illustration application.

Maybe you love coffee as much as I do, and you’d like me to render your favorite (more permanent) vessel for the elixir. I can! Email me at lemasney@gmail.com